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23
Pulak-duzi,1 wall hanging
Isfahan, Iran late 19th c.
The field features an
elaborate cypress tree/tree of life inscribed within a polylobed
arch with palmettes in the spandrels. The tree is flanked by
characteristic parrots and peacocks, accompanied by other flying and
perching birds, flowers in vases, flowering bushes emerging from
hillocks, and inexplicable goats with fish depending from their
mouths. The top border comprises large botehs, while the broad side
borders contain bowls of fruit, candelabra with cut glass pendants
(depicting a sort imported from Europe), ibriq (ewers) or gulab-posh
(rosewater sprinklers), and lamps.
A
guard border just below the top border contains devotional phrases
in Arabic and Persian, Qur'anic and non-Qur'anic. Among others, they
include the profession of faith ("There is no god but God"), the
Victory Surah, "Aid is from God and
conquest is nigh" Ya Hafiz,
("Oh Protector")
and "Ya qadi 'l-hajat,"
("Oh Judge of [all]
needs").2
Much of the imagery is similar to that found on Persian qalamkari
(or kalamkari) and combines paradisiacal references and images
related to weddings. What with the expressly devotional character of
the inscriptions, one may infer that this hanging's presence would
serve to confer god's blessings on the household, particularly
propitious in the home of the newly wed.
1
Useful information from Jay Gluck and Sumi Hiramoto Gluck, eds.,
A Survey of Persian Handicraft,
Survey of Persian Art, Tehran & New York, 1977
2 Thanks to A. Riedlmayer for translations
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Size, materials &
techniques: |
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Size: 6' x 4' 1”
(183 x 124 cm). Silk threads
and hand-made brass sequins embroidered onto plain-woven
cotton ground (faded blue and red). The embroidery is in 8
colors: white, gray, tan, light blue, lilac, purple, deep
purple and black; and metal-wrapped silk thread. Backing: two
pieces of cotton twill, one white and one yellow. Edging:
striped cotton material cut on the bias. |
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